Police urged to tackle ‘litany of crimes’ plaguing housing estate

Police have been urged to do more to tackle a ‘litany of crimes’ plaguing a housing estate in Dungannon, amid fears that further violence will be perpetrated against residents.

In the latest incident, a car was destroyed in an arson attack in Fairmount Park on Friday past, which is believed locally to be linked to previous attacks including a security alert involving a pipe bomb in January.

Police in Dungannon are appealing for information following the latest incident in which the car was severely damaged.

A Fairmount pensioner had his car destroyed in an arson attack in March, less than two months after a pipe bomb was left in the front seat of his former car.

The January attack sparked a security alert which led to a number of streets being cordoned off for most of the day and some residents being evacuated from their homes.

In a further incident on April 14, a gun was fired at a man in the troubled housing estate.

Police said a 30 year-old man was approached by four masked men in the early hours of the morning who made threats before shooting at him. It is understood there have also been a number of other attacks in the area, which have been linked to criminal violence.

Dungannon Councillor Dominic Molloy condemned the attacks, saying there was a strong belief that the violence was linked.

“Many people believe the incidents are connected and there is a criminal element behind them”, he said.

“It has to stop before someone gets seriously hurt. Fairmount has lots of young families who are working hard to make a living for themselves, and this is completely unacceptable for this to be happening in the area.”

Councillor Molloy outlined his criticism of the police response so far.